Antenna



Jan. 30, 1934. H H 1 1,944,891

ANTENNA Filed Oct. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Harry Hfillll 4 M ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1934. 1,944,893

ANTENNA Filed Oct. 14. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Harry H. Hill 7 W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 30, 1934 stir;

Application October 14,

6 Claims.

1931. Serial No. 568,797

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) My invention relates to improvements in a method of and apparatus for communicating from a submerged radio station.

An object of this invention is to furnish a method for receiving and transmitting radio signals from a submarine at periscope depth.

Another object of this invention is to supply apparatus for practicing the above method.

A third object is to furnish a method of communicating from a submerged radio station.

A fourth object is to supply apparatus for communicating from a submerged radio station.

With the above and other objects in View, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described more fully hereinafter.

I practice my method and attain these objects with the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View of a submarine at periscope depth showing an antenna secured near the top of the periscope;

Figs. 2 and 4 show a method of automatically adjusting the slack in the antenna as the periscope is raised or lowered;

Figs. 3 and 5 show a method of preventing the antennas winding up on the periscope while the latter is rotated about its axis;

Figs. 6, '7, 8, 9, l0 and 11 show various arrangements of antenna supported by buoys for use with a deep submerged radio station.

In submarine work the use of a second periscope or carrier for the antenna is unsatisfactory for two reasons; first, it increases the visibility of the submarine due to the fact that two objects are exposed instead of cne, and second, when two periscopes are visible the enemy can make a much better estimate of the course of the submarine.

In using the observing periscope as a carrier for the antenna, some means must be provided to prevent the antenna from winding up on the periscope as it is rotated about its axis. Also, some means must be provided for reducing the vibration of the periscope caused by the drag of the antenna through the water.

Also, submarines in patrol work very often lie on the bottom during dayli ht, or other periods, in water of one hundred feet or more. Under such conditions it is highly desirable to be able to communicate with other radio stations. The method of supporting a portion of an antenna above the surface of the water as set forth in this disclosure works very well under such conditions.

This invention overcomes the above mentioned diiiiculties to a great extent as is more fully explained in the following detailed description.

Similar numerals'refer to similar parts throughout the several views. In Fig. 1, the insulated antenna 1 is led from the radio room, through a trunk, thence through a watertight stuifing box 2, aft along clearing line 3 to which it is secured by insulators 4 and thence to a ring 5 near the top of the periscope 6. The antenna 1 is led aft along clearing line 3 so that that portion leading to the top or" the periscope will be at an angle to the periscope and assist the turning of ring 5 on its mounting and prevent the winding of the antenna on the periscope as it is rotated about its axis. When the periscope is lowered, the bight of the antenna trails aft of the periscope.

In Fig. 2 is shown apparatus 7 for automatically taking the slack of antenna 1 as the periscope is raised and lowered. When thus kept taut, the periscope end of the antenna is more nearly vertical and still assures the turning of the ring 5 on its mounting so that the antenna will not wind on the periscope as the latter is rotated about its axis. This also reduces vibration in the periscope caused by dragging the antenna through the water.

In Fig. 3, ring 5 is shown in more detail. The inside circumferential tongue moves in a corresponding groove in mounting 8.

In Fig. 4, antenna 1 is rove through pulley 9 $5 which supports weight 10, which moves up and down in tube 11 taking up the slack in the antenna 1 and keeping it taut as the periscope is raised and lowered.

In Fig. 5, antenna 1 is secured to piece 12 which is mounted by a spindle and ball hearings to the top of periscope 6.

Fig. 6 shows an antenna leading from a submarine 13 resting on the bottom 14 to a buoy 15 floating on the surface of the water. Buoy 15 is $5 insulated from antenna 1 and supports the antenna so that its upper portion extends in a substantially vertical direction above the surface of the water. Figs. 7 and 9 show respectively a spar buoy 16 and a float and mast type of buoy 17 for [100 accomplishing the same purpose.

In Fig. 10 the buoy 18 contains a variable inductance 19 which with vertical conductor 20 forms a part of the antenna system. The antenna system is insulated from the buoy and from 105 the water. By adjusting inductance 19, the signal for the particular frequency in use is improved. The vertical conductor 20 may be omitted and the coil 19 may be used alone as an antenna.

In Fig. 8, antenna 1 is insulated from the buoy 1 21 and from the water except through metal buoy 22 to which it is grounded. This makes a loop of the antenna with a small portion of the loop projecting above the surface of the water. This 5 has given better results in some cases.

Fig. 11 shows two fioat-and-mast type of buoys 23 supporting the upper portion of the antenna 1 in a horizontal position. The antenna is insulatedfrom the buoys and from the water. This type is advantageous with intermediate frequencies. The buoys are separated by streaming with the motion of the submarine. When the submerged submarine is stationary they may be kept separated by a rod or pipe running between 15 them. The two-buoy support increases the amount of gear and the difficulties of handling.

In using the buoy support for the antenna from a submerged submarine, it may prove advisable to have suitable releasing and securing gear for the antenna system which may be operated from within the submarine while submerged.

It is clear that the antenna must be insulated V to prevent grounding the entire antenna system and, also, that the portion of the antenna that receives the signal is almost entirely that part which projects above the surface of the water, sea water being a very good conductor and hence an efiective shield to electromagnetic waves.

Prior to the introduction of antennae of these types, radio communication could not be conducted by a submarine at full periscope depth or while lying on the bottom in greater depths.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes, without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. An antenna system for a submerged radio station, comprising an insulated conductor, one end of which is adapted for connecting with the transmitting and receiving apparatus, the other end being adapted for securing to the top of a periscope, and means associated with the central part of said antenna whereby the slack of the antenna is automatically adjusted as the periscope is raised or lowered.

2. A periscope fitting for securing an antenna, comprising a first ring in two parts with an outside circumferential groove, said ring being adapted to be secured to and rotate with said periscope, a second ring with an inside circumferential tongue, the second ring fitting over the first ring so that the tongue moves in the groove, and means on the second ring for securing one end of the antenna.

3. A periscope fitting for securing an antenna, comprising a first and a second disk, each disk having a circular groove acting as a bearing surface for metallic balls, said first disk being adapted to be secured to the top of the periscope, said second disk having means for securing one end of the antenna, a plurality of metallic balls, and means for securing the two disks together.

4. An antenna system for a submarine, comprising an insulated conductor, and means for securing the upper end of the antenna to the periscope, and a means preventing the fouling of the antenna when the periscope is rotated.

5. An antenna system for a submarine, comprising an insulated conductor, one end of which is adapted for securing to the top of the periscope, .135 and means associated with the central part of the insulated conductor whereby the slack is auto matically adjusted as the periscope is raised or lowered.

6. An antenna system for a submarine, comprising an insulated conductor, means for securing the upper end of said conductor to the top of the periscope, means for preventing the fouling of the antenna when the periscope is rotated, and adjusting means associated with the central part of said conductor for automatically adjusting the slack as the periscope is raised or lowered.

HARRY l-I. HILL. 

